Most Important Knife Bill of the Year Signed Into Law

March 3, 2012

For years the BLADE Show has literally been operating on the “knife’s edge”of the law because even though it takes place in Cobb County, where there are very few restrictions on knives, right across the street in the city of Atlanta, where many BLADE Show attendees go to eat, sleep and recreate, there are onerous laws against knives and knife owners.

These local ordinances banned the possession of all sorts of knives readily available and often carried at the BLADE Show including a prohibition against carry of any automatic or any knife with a blade longer than three-inches “readily available for use.” An attendee or exhibitor could easily have run afoul of these ordinances and faced fines and jail time. The potential existed to create terrible publicity that could have jeopardized the knife world’s most important annual show! With the signing of Knife Rights drafted Knife Law Preemption bill, those threats are now eliminated.

Our thanks to the members and supporters of Knife Rights who made their support known to the legislature and governor and to the bill sponsors, Georgia Senator Bill Heath and Georgia Representative David Knight. Also, a special thank you to Governor Nathan Deal for signing this important legislation.

Having said all that, one word of caution! Please note that this new Knife Preemption Law does not go into effect until July 1, 2012, so BLADE Show attendees should remain cautious this year as the old laws remain in effect until July 1st.

A law of this importance doesn’t just pass itself. Knife Rights’ Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, worked very hard from well before this year’s legislative session started in order to pass this bill and get it signed. In the end, he had to spend an entire week in Atlanta in order to shepherd this bill through the final days of the legislature. This is the dedication and effort that Knife Rights brings to our efforts to ensure a Sharper Future for all Americans™. No organization works harder to protect your rights.

But, it’s not quite over yet. Now the bill moves to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk for his signature. Without his signature, the bill won’t become law. Please use this form to contact Governor Deal’s office and politely request that he sign SB432 (see instructions below):

Then, please also call Governor Deal at: 404-656-1776

When you fill out the online form, DO NOT indicate you are representing an Organization or Group (unless you actually are an officer or representative acting in that capacity).

Under “Please choose a category:” select “Legislation- State“

You can click the box “no response is needed” unless you cannot live without a form email response.

In the message box, we are providing a sample message below. You can personalize this message, if you are so inclined. It does make a difference:

Dear Governor Deal,

I am writing to respectfully request that you to please sign SB432 which makes Georgia’s knife laws consistent throughout the state. Georgia is very important to knife collectors and manufacturers worldwide because Georgia is home to the BLADE Show, the largest knife show and event in the world. This show represents millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs for Georgia. SB432 will assure that the BLADE Show can remain in Georgia and its attendees will not have to worry about inconsistent knife laws in Georgia when traveling to and from the show.

March 26, 2012: Knife Rights’ Georgia Knife Preemption Bill SB432 must be scheduled for a vote in the next three days or it will not become law.

It is critical for you to take a moment and call the office of Georgia’s Speaker of the House David Ralston and POLITELY request that he “please schedule SB432 for a vote as soon as possible.” That’s all the message you need to leave.

SB432 makes certain that Georgia’s knife laws are consistent throughout the state. As the home of the BLADE Show, this is very important to knife owners, collectors and manufacturers and means millions of dollars in business to Georgia.

The Georgia legislature is in the final hours of the 2012 session and there are a lot of bills competing to be heard before the legislature adjourns, most likely on Thursday.

If you are a BLADE Show attendee, or ever plan to be, and even if you are not a Georgia resident, you have a stake in this issue…CALL TODAY! Phone calls will have the greatest impact.

March 20, 2012: Knife Rights’ Georgia Knife Preemption Bill SB432 passed out of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee today on a 6-2 vote. Your emails and calls make an impact! SB432 is Knife Rights’ Knife Law Preemption bill that would repeal all local knife ordinances more restrictive than state law.

Now the bill moves to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday or Thursday to be scheduled for a vote of the full House. Knife Rights’ Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, is in Atlanta to lobby the committee members. His job is much easier and more effective when they have already received your calls and emails.

You can continue to help Todd by calling or emailing the members of the House Rules Committee and request they schedule SB432 for a vote. It is VERY IMPORTANT to remember to be very RESPECTFUL & POLITE when making your request. We have included a succinct sample message below. They have a lot of bills to consider, so all you need to do is to politely let them know that this bill has support from an involved constituency.

If you are a Georgia resident it is best that you call the committee members below. If you can’t call, at least email.

If you are a BLADE Show attendee from outside of Georgia, please email ALL of the committee members (listed below) and ask them to vote YES on SB432.

Use Email SUBJECT: Please Schedule SB432 for a Vote

Suggested email:

Dear Representative [inset name],

As a knife owner, collector and enthusiast, I attend the BLADE Show in Atlanta which generates millions of dollars for the Georgia economy. SB432 would ensure that when I visit Georgia the knife laws will be consistent statewide. It will also ensure that Georgia residents will know that their pocketknife is legal throughout the entire state.

Please schedule SB432 for a vote as promptly as you can.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[your signature]

If you call, here is what you might say to the Representative’s secretary:

Hello my name is xxxxxx xxxxxxx and I am calling to ask Representative [insert name] to please schedule SB432 for a vote as soon as possible. This bill is important to me because I attend the BLADE show in Atlanta and would like to see the knife laws across Georgia be consistent. Thank you for taking my message.

As home to BLADE Show, successful passage of SB432 would not only ensure Georgia residents carrying a knife are treated fairly wherever they travel in Georgia, but all those traveling to Blade though towns and cities with knife laws more restrictive that Georgia’s otherwise decent knife laws, would be safe from violation.As an example, Atlanta city ordinance makes it illegal to carry any automatic or any knife with a blade longer than three-inches “readily available for use.”

Knife Law Preemption protects honest citizens from a patchwork of local ordinances and rules that can entrap those traveling within or through a state in possession of knives that meet state law or wherever they live in the state. A person can be charged with a violation of law when they have no intention of violating the law.

BLADE Show, held annually in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest knife show and pumps millions of dollars into the local and state economy. SB432 will protect the thousands of exhibitors and visitors who travel to and from BLADE Show to buy, sell or simply enjoy the thousands of knives on display and the many knife-related events associated with BLADE Show.

March 17, 2012: The Georgia House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee hearing on SB432 will be Tuesday, March 20th. SN432 is Knife Rights’ Knife Law Preemption bill that would repeal all local knife ordinances more restrictive than state law.

Knife Rights’ Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, is in Atlanta to lobby the committee members and testify at the hearing. His job is much easier and more effective when they have already received your calls and emails. Help Todd by calling or emailing TODAY!

Once again, we need your help to get this bill passed. Your calls and emails made a big impact in the Senate. Now, please call or email and ask the members of the committee to vote YES on SB432 when it is before them for consideration.

If you are a Georgia resident it is vital that you call the members. If you are a BLADE Show attendee from outside of Georgia, then you need to email and/or call ALL of the committee members (listed below) and ask them to vote YES on SB432.

IMPORTANT: In your email or when you talk to each Representative’s secretary, tell them that that you are a BLADE Show attendee or exhibitor and that the BLADE Show represents MILLIONS of dollars to the Georgia economy. It also represents many hundreds of JOBS in Georgia. All those hotels and restaurants we stay at and eat in during BLADE Show employ many hundreds of people and SB432 will help support BLADE Show! You deserve to not have to worry about local knife restrictions when traveling to and attending BLADE Show and even a single unjustified and highly publicized arrest could adversely affect BLADE Show attendance!

As home to BLADE Show, successful passage of SB432 would not only ensure Georgia residents carrying a knife are treated fairly wherever they travel in Georgia, but all those traveling to Blade though towns and cities with knife laws more restrictive that Georgia’s otherwise decent knife laws, would be safe from violation.As an example, Atlanta city ordinance makes it illegal to carry any automatic or any knife with a blade longer than three-inches “readily available for use.”

SB432 is sponsored by Knife Rights’ good friend, Senator Bill Heath, who has worked hard getting it through the Senate with your help. Now it is important for ALL of US to help him get it through the House!

Knife Law Preemption protects honest citizens from a patchwork of local ordinances and rules that can entrap those traveling within or through a state in possession of knives that meet state law or wherever they live in the state. A person can be charged with a violation of law when they have no intention of violating the law.

BLADE Show, held annually in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest knife show and pumps millions of dollars into the local and state economy. SB432 will protect the thousands of exhibitors and visitors who travel to and from BLADE Show to buy, sell or simply enjoy the thousands of knives on display and the many knife-related events associated with BLADE Show.

March 7, 2012: Congratulations! With your help, the Georgia Senate passed SB432, Knife Rights’ Knife Law Preemption bill that would repeal all local knife ordinances more restrictive than state law, by a vote of 41–12. Now it moves to House for consideration. Your emails and calls have made a difference in moving this bill. We’ll let you know when it’s time to email and call House members.

March 6, 2012: The Georgia Senate Rules Committee has sent SB432, Knife Rights’ Knife Law Preemption bill that would repeal all local knife ordinances more restrictive than state law, to the full Senate for a vote.Your emails and calls are making it happen!

This bill lives or dies on the Senate floor on Wednesday. ACT NOW! If you live in Georgia, please email and/or call your Senator and ask them to vote YES on SB432.

If you are a Blade show attendee from outside of Georgia then you need to email and/or call the Senate Leadership (listed below) and ask them to pass SB432.

IMPORTANT: In your email or when you talk to each Senator’s secretary, tell them that that you are a BLADE Show attendee and that the BLADE Show represents MILLIONS of dollars to the Georgia economy. It also represents hundreds of JOBS in Georgia. All those hotels and restaurants we stay at and eat in during BLADE Show employ many hundreds of people and SB432 will help support BLADE Show! You deserve to not have to worry about local knife restrictions when traveling to and attending BLADE Show and even a single unjustified and highly publicized arrest could adversely affect BLADE Show attendance!

PLEASE NOTE: SENATOR STONER’S DISTRICT INCLUDES COBB GALLERIA, home of BLADE Show. BLADE Show means millions of dollars and jobs to HIS constituents and you should specifically ask that he help lead the effort to pass SB432!

Also: Senator Judson Hill represents a district that includes hotels and restaurants that also serve BLADE Show attendees, so his constituents also directly enjoy the economic benefits – judson.hill@senate.ga.gov (404) 656-0150

As home to BLADE Show, successful passage of SB432 would not only ensure Georgia residents carrying a knife are treated fairly wherever they travel in Georgia, but all those traveling to Blade though towns and cities with knife laws more restrictive that Georgia’s otherwise decent knife laws, would be safe from violation.As an example, Atlanta city ordinance makes it illegal to carry any automatic or any knife with a blade longer than three-inches “readily available for use.”

SB432 is sponsored by Knife Rights’ good friend, Senator Bill Heath, who has worked hard getting it through to this point. Now it is important for ALL of US to help him get it through the Senate (and then on through the House).

Knife Law Preemption protects honest citizens from a patchwork of local ordinances and rules that can entrap those traveling within or through a state in possession of knives that meet state law or wherever they live in the state. A person can be charged with a violation of law when they have no intention of violating the law.

BLADE Show, held annually in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest knife show and pumps millions of dollars into the local and state economy. SB432 will protect the thousands of exhibitors and visitors who travel to and from BLADE Show to buy, sell or simply enjoy the thousands of knives on display and the many knife-related events associated with BLADE Show.

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KnifeRights.org serves as the web site for both 501(c)(4) Knife Rights, Inc. and 501(c)(3) Knife Rights Foundation, Inc. The advocacy portions of KnifeRights.org are the sole responsibility of Knife Rights, Inc.